The
Reverend John Antle of the Columbia Coast Mission, with the help of
volunteers and Anglican congregations in Vancouver raised funds to
open, in 1930, the first hospital on the Sunshine Coast at Garden
Bay in Pender Harbour. When a proposal for a centrally located hospital
was successful, a new St. Mary's Hospital was built and opened in
1964 in Sechelt on land donated by the Sechelt First Nation.St.
Mary's Hospital Auxiliary Society consists of six branches. The first
auxiliary was formed in Pender Harbour in 1937, followed by Halfmoon
Bay in 1955, Gibson's in 1960, Sechelt in 1961, Robert's Creek in
1964 and Port Mellon (now Hopkins) also in 1964. A co-ordinating council
oversaw the six auxiliaries' activities and reported to the St. Mary's
Hospital Board. In 1983 the six auxiliaries amalgamated, becoming
one auxiliary with six branches then in 1993, the auxiliary formed
a Society. A Board of Directors, elected from the six branches, now
directs the business of the auxiliary. The six branches hold monthly
meetings, arrange their own fund-raising activities, run the hospital
gift shop, loan cupboard and the thrift shop in Sechelt. It is through
the efforts of the auxiliary and its many volunteer members that the
hospital is so well equipped and comfortably furnished. Totem Lodge,
the extended care facility, is of particular interest to the auxiliary.